Rising from the rubble of Lyttelton’s Volcano Cafe, Porthole Bar and Restaurant will be open in Lyttelton in time for New Year’s Eve!

On the corner of London and Canterbury streets, the ‘building’ is a U shape formed by three containers and a covered deck in the space inbetween.
Port holes have been cut into the container walls, giving the bar its name.

Local craft beers on offer reflect proprietor Mike Dunlay’s love of real ales, with a traditional hand-pulled beer, as well as popular wines, beers and spirits.
The Porthole offers antipasto platters for a social-dining experience, to share with friends. Food will be provided by the Volcano’s commercial kitchen in Lyttelton.

Mike Dunlay & Chris Stead have leased the site from Pete and Lois Evans, who owned the landmark Volcano Cafe and experienced an emotional time when its building had to be demolished due to quake damage.

The temporary bar is likely to operate as is for at least “a few years”.
Dunlay, who has previously owned a bar in Christchurch, says, “I saw an opportunity to create the sort of bar that suits the quirkiness of Lyttelton and the current times.
I had been trying to find a venue to meet this need for months and when Pete and Lois agreed to us putting a temporary building on their site it was a perfect solution.”

Sources: Fairfax NZ News & lytteltonharbour.info